Playbooks

Post Flags

Shotgun·Spread·10

Post Pass Play

Play diagram for Post Flags from Shotgun Spread in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread

Personnel

101 RB · 0 TE · 4 WR

In 1 playbook

Balanced OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Post Flags lines up out of Shotgun Spread with a 10 personnel look, spreading four receivers wide. To the left, the outside receiver runs a deep post while the slot receiver runs a shallow drag across the field. To the right, the outside receiver runs a flag route (post to corner) while the slot receiver runs a shallow drag underneath, mirroring the left side. This is a man beater at its core, using the post and flag combo to stress a single deep defender while the drag routes give the quarterback a built-in answer against blitzes or trailing coverage underneath. The primary read starts with the flag route to the right, works back to the post if the safety jumps the flag, and checks down to either drag if both are covered.

Defensive Reads

Check for two high safeties presnap since split safety shells can rotate to double the post or the flag and take away the deep shots entirely. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, soft press or off coverage on the outside receivers signals the flag and post will have room to work against man. Key the underneath linebackers after the snap, if they sink into deep hook zones instead of covering the drags you have an easy checkdown throw. Identify user blitz pressure immediately, since a delayed blitz off the edge can beat the pass protection before the deep routes develop. Look for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, this is the biggest threat to the crossing drag routes and can bait a costly interception.

Usage Tips

Look for single high safety shells before the snap since the post and flag combo puts maximum stress on one deep defender who cannot cover both routes.

Use the flag route as your first read against man coverage because it attacks the sideline and forces the corner to work against his hips.

Hot route the drags into deeper crossers if you see zone coverage rolling underneath, since the shallow drags can get swallowed by linebackers sitting in hook zones.

Call this on third and medium to long since the deep shots and the underlying drags give you answers at every level of the route tree.

Pair this with Four Verticals or Y Stick from the same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and quick underneath throws off similar formation looks.